MISSOULA, MT – Cristyan Jose Gonzalez-Carrillo, 37, of Bozeman, Montana, is headed to federal prison for three years after admitting to running guns across the border to Mexico. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, includes three years of supervised release following his incarceration.
Gonzalez-Carrillo pleaded guilty to illegal export in October 2023, ending a case built by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Court documents reveal Gonzalez-Carrillo purchased approximately 31 handguns between February and May 2020, then funneled them south of the border.
The ATF began investigating in July 2020 after receiving tips about Gonzalez-Carrillo’s operation. A subsequent raid on his Bozeman residence turned up a cache of firearms and ammunition, including semi-automatic handguns and AR-style rifles, one of which was equipped with an illegal foregrip. Receipts from multiple Montana gun stores confirmed the purchases made over a four-month period.
Investigators didn’t stop at the firearms themselves. Vehicle plate records showed Gonzalez-Carrillo repeatedly crossing the border at San Ysidro, California, between April and June 2020. Further investigation revealed he was advertising the weapons for sale on WhatsApp and directly selling to buyers in Mexico – a clear pipeline for arming dangerous criminal elements.
“Today’s prison sentence puts this defendant out of the illegal business of buying guns in Montana and taking them to Mexico to sell,” stated U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich. “Firearms trafficking fuels violence on both sides of the border, and we remain committed here in Montana to investigating and prosecuting those who violate federal firearms laws.” ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers added, “Illegal firearms trafficking fuels the cartels’ capacity to carry out violent crimes domestically and internationally. We will continue to aggressively target traffickers alongside our partners.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott and is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The PSN program emphasizes community trust, prevention, strategic enforcement, and measurable results – a strategy clearly demonstrated in bringing Gonzalez-Carrillo to justice.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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